Eating Healthy

Eating healthy is part of living a healthy life. Healthy eating is a responsibility of our communities, schools, clinics, society, and families. We all have a role. There is much we can do to promote healthy eating habits. Together we can prevent or delay onset of diabetes, obesity and other chronic conditions and diseases.

Benefits

• Helps maintain a healthy weight
• A healthy weight reduces risk of chronic diseases and conditions
• Helps you feel good
• Healthy bones

What can I do?

• Small changes add up! Make one change now and add another change as you are able.
• Select water or non-fat milk more often than sugared drinks. Replacing one can of soda a day with water would result in a 15 pound weight loss in one year. At $1.50 a can, at the end of the year, you would save $547. Wow!
• Eat until you are satisfied instead of full or stuffed. Eat more slowly. Take a few deep breaths before each meal.
• Providing healthy foods to your children is a gift which will last a lifetime. Eating healthy foods is contagious. When parents eat healthier foods, their children eat healthier foods.
• Buy and eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Try to eat 3 meals a day. Try to have your family sit at the table for at least one meal daily. Try to keep conversation pleasant. It is a good time to listen to the highlights of your family's day.
• Cook healthier by baking, broiling, steaming, or boiling more often.
• Be open to trying a new healthy food or recipe.

What can my community or clinic do?

• You are important. Healthier eating is important.
• Ask your Tribe how you can make healthier affordable food easier to get in your community.
• Ask your PTA or PTO how you can make foods and drinks in your child's school healthier?
• Ask for healthier foods at the meal programs in which you participate.